Tarhe - Warrior, Brave and in the Wood
I consider the 6th stanza the key part of the poem. It even reads like it contains important information required to understand the rest of the clues.
For instance “Brave and in the wood.” This is where I strongly believe it can have several meanings. In my book, Finding Forrest Fenn, I discussed in great detail the use of multiple meanings. The obvious one is the treasure is in the woods or forest but does it also tell us how to read other clues?
The bronze of this unique bronze was cast by Forrest Fenn. It is very telling and fits the words “brave and in the wood” perfectly if one considers Brave is an Indian. The Ebay add speculates it is sitting Bull and if you consider scrapbook nintey-nine point nine (sounds like a radio station) the Montana 99.5 station is KBLL “The Bull.” Does indicate that along with all those Fenn discussions with the media that he has Sitting Bull’s pipe.
However, there is another lesser know Brave that fits much better. That brave is Tarhe. Known as “The Crane,” he was very tall and his name loosely translates to “at the tree." He was considered a very brave man. Born in Canada as part of the Wyandot Porcupine Clan; the Wyandot (“Why is it”) are also referred to the Tobacco people and we have heard Forrest discuss Tobacco many times before. He married a beautiful French captive, fathered a beautiful daughter and named her Myeerah (sounds like “mirror”). He married a second time to what is believed to me Sally Sharpe (not related to Fenn’s many references to Joseph Sharpe).
A notable speaker, Tarhe, The Crane use the words "listen" in all his speeches, "Brothers, listen! We are both placed on this ground. I now wipe the tears from your eyes and open your ears.” “Elder brother! Now listen to us”,”Brothers, the fifteen fires, listen!." “Brothers, listen!”, “Brothers, listen! We are both placed on this ground”, “Brother! Listen to us Indians, who now speak to you”, “Brother warrior! Listen to us”, “Brother! Listen to me. We are all of one mind, who are here assembled”, “Brother! Listen to us Indians- I told you just now that we were upon business of the greatest moment”, and “Brothers, listen! I have told you that I speak from my heart.”
Tarhe was a fearless warrior and I cannot count how many times Fenn mentioned “Warrior.”
Tarhe severely injured his right elbow in a battle (thus he draws neigh or left handed) in a famous battle “Fallen Timbers” at he present day city of Toledo and he always worked for peace.
I have highlighted the many hints I believe tie in Tarhe but here are some I think are very important:
Porcupine tribe - In his memoir Forrest said porcupines taste like kerosine. He carved a porcupine on his jar he buried and he wrote about the three animals in the wild to be aware of: porcupine, snakes and skunks.
Toledo - is the where the Battle of Fallen Timbers took place.
Wyandots were known as the Tobacco People.
Myeerah - sounds like to mirror.
Tarhe lost the use of his right arm (draw nigh or left handed) and Fenn described the breaking of an arm from his wood carved moses.
Fenn’s use of the word warrior and Brave strongly suggest “Brave” is an Indian Chief.
The poem says to listen - Tarhe sounds like “tarry”
The significance of Tarhe and the poem will be discussed in an upcoming blog.